Centrifugal apparatus



April 28, 1942. o. w. JOHNSON CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23. 193s 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fix.

INVENT BY @Jg/#f wfg ATTORNEYS y APl'il 28, 1942 o. w. JOHNSON GENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Filed NOV. 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENToR B OSCAR vW. JOHNSON ATTORN EYS April 28, 1942.

o. w. JoHNsoN 2,280,916

CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 23, 1938 l. l.2 L.a

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR OSCAR W. JOHNSON.

ATTOR N EYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 2,280,916 cEN'rmFUGAL APPARATUS' Oscar W. Johnson, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Amern Laundry Machinery Company,

Norwood,

o, a corporation of Ohio Application November 23, 1938, Serial No. 241,92?

(Cl. 21o-73) 21 Claims.

' in a sugar solution or chemical mixtures or suspensions of various types, for the purpose of separating the liquid from the solids, it is often desirable to quickly remove the liquid and to collect both the liquid and solid phases.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a centrifugal separator which is suitable.

for this purpose and while my invention will be described in connection with the treating of perishable products, such as fruit, which have been quickly frozen by means of a liquid solution that is capable of remaining in the liquid state at the freezing temperature of the perishable product, it will be understood that my improved appararatus is not limited in this respect as it may be employed for any desired purpose, such as for separating solids from liquids in general, or it may be employed as an extracting device for various purposes, such as for extracting liquid or solvents from fabrics in laundry application.

In preserving fruit, such as strawberries or raspberries, it is the practice to quickly freeze the berries at a temperature of approximately 3 to 5 F. in an aqueous solution of sugar of suflcient concentration to maintain the solution in the liquid state at that temperature, and to then quickly remove and recover the solution from the berries for further use and to collect the berries for preservation as a food product. In accord- .mined time to receive an additional charge.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to.

provide an improved centrifugal device by means of which liquid may be quickly separated or extracted from solids and by means of which the solids may be readily removed from the centrifuge after the separating or extracting operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved centrifugal separator and associated mechanism which are substantially automatic in operation and by means of which liquid may be quickly separated from solids in a mixture containing both solids and liquidwhile the centrifuge is operating at a comparatively high speed,

including means for expelling the solids from the centrifuge while it is rotating at a. comparatively low speed and restoring the apparatus to its operative position to receive another charge.

Another object of the invention is to provide an underdriven lextractor embodying a basket having a bottom and a side wall, the side wall being capable of vertical movement relative to the bottom for discharge purposes, together with means located'below the basket and, more specically, extending upwardly through the basket spindle, for raising and lowering the basket wall, to thereby avoid overhead obstructions which might otherwise interfere with access to the basket for loading, inspection -or other purposes.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the specification proceeds.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my improved apparatus taken on the line l-l of Fig. 6, parts of the motor casing being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view as een 1from a plane passing through line 2--2 of Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 as seen from a plane passing through the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig.l, the lever being omitted;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on .the line 5--5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line E-S of Fig. 1, the casing for the lever actuating motor being broken away to show the speed reducing gear structure;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 1, parts of the underlying structure being broken away;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail plan view of the scraping mechanism shown in Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the line IU-I of Fig. 6, showing the centrifugal switch mechanism on the driving motor;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a control circuit for the apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing a modification of a portion of the control circuit; and

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the dash-pot shown in Fig. 1.

According to my invention I employ an underdriven extractor Which from some standpoints, such as its spindle mounting, may be of standard will more fully appear hereafter.

form. The extractor spindle carries a basket having a bottom and an imperforate outer wall. the said' outer wall being capable of vertical movement for discharge of the solid matter, as

To avoid overhead obstructions, such as might interfere with access to the basket for loading, inspection or other purposes, I preferably utilize mechanism for raising and lowering the basket wall, which is mounted or located below the basket top, such as beneath the basket and which, preferably, is connected to the basket wall by operating means which extends upwardly through the basket spindle, which is tubular or hollow for the purpose. Therefore, the basket spindle is mounted so that its oscillating point or center is above the floor, giving access to the lower end of the spindle, from beneath, for the operating means for the basket wall.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved apparatus comprises a casing I, a container 2 having an imperforate wall and elevated outlet openings arranged within the casing, a tubular spindle 3 for rotating the container, a frame 5, a motor 6 for driving the spindle, a control device 1, a lever 8 for raising the wall of the container, a motor 8 for actuating lever 8, a rotatable platform I having a bevelled edge arranged below the container and a motor II for. rotating the platform.

In accordance with my invention, the berries mixed with the sugar solution, are rst introduced through casing I into container 2 which is adapted to be driven at a comparatively high speed to remove the sugar solution from the berries. For this purpose the cover I2, which is secured to the casing I in any desirable manner, such as by means of ilanges I3 having slots I4 adapted tov receive pins I5 extending from the casing wall, is provided with a central chute I6a which is inclined downwardly and inwardly. The container 2 is also provided with an attached closure or cover I6 having elevated outlets, shown as outwardly extending tubes I1 secured to the cover, and a central opening surrounded by a downwardly extending annular flange I8 to which an upwardly and outwardly inclined chute I 8 is secured, the opening of chute I8 being concentric with the opening of chute Ia to provide a passageway for the mixture of berries into container 2.

Container 2 is connected to the spindle to be rotatably driven thereby and to provide slidable movement of the walls and cover of the container with respect to the bottom portion. As illustrated in the drawings, the bottom portion 2|) of the container is provided with a hub 2| which is keyed to rotatable spindle 3 and the annular flange I8 is provided with spokes 23 terminating in a hub 24 which is keyed to spindle 3 at 25. For the purpose of rotating the container. spindle 3 is provided with an outwardly flared portion 26 to receive the hub' 21 of a pulley 28 which is connected by belt 6a to the shaft of motor 6. Upon energizing motor 6, container 2 is rotated and the mixture is thrown outwardly and upwardly,

To maintain the fruit in the centrifuge while expelling the solution, an annular baille 30 is arranged in container 2 below its outlet openings I1, which openings may be either in the cover portion as shown or adjacent the upper edge of the body portion. The baille 30 is provided with spokes 3| which permit flow of the mixture into the container, the spokes 3I ter- 75 minating in a hub 32 which is secured to spindle 3 by any suitable means, such as a set screw 33. The baille 30 is also provided with a series of radially slidable plates 34 (Figs. 8 and 9), each having a plurality of apertures 36 in its outer edge and each being provided with radially elongated slots 36a, each of the slots being adapted to loosely receive the shank of a rivet 36h passing through the-baille wall. Upon rotation of container .2 the mixture is thrown outwardly and upwardly, the solution passing upwardly through apertures 36 and out through tubes I1 which extend over a baille 31 attached to the side of the casing, the solution being discharged onto an inclined annular plate 38 along which it drains to an outlet 38.

To provide a support for the lower. end of the spindle and to permit a certain amount Aof oscillatory motion of the container due to Aunbalanced loads, support 5 is provided with an inwardly extending annular ilange 48 located a substantial distance above the base 4I and terminates at its upper end in an annular ring 42 forming an opening through which spindle 3 extends. Supported upon the ilange 48 is a housing 40a having an annular flange 42a which forms a seat for a ring 43 formed of a suitable resilient material, such as rubber, and upon which rests the ilange 44 of a bearing sleeve 45, above which flange 44 is a second resilient ring 46 held in place by means of a nut 41. Bearing sleeve 45 supports a thrust bearing 48 for tubular spindle 3 and at its upper end is threaded to receive an umbrella-shaped disk 48 locked in place by nut 50 which prevents oil passing upwardly from the bearing from owing to the resilient rings. Spindle 3 carries a rubber cushion 5I which engages the ring 4i.'4 of housing 5 to limit container oscillation.

In accordance with my invention, improved means are also provided to remove the berries after the sugar solution has been expelled. For this purpose a slidable rod 55 extends through the hollow spindle 3 and is provided with a head 56 at its lower end. When rod 55 is moved upwardly, its upper end engages a thimble 51 threaded to hub 24 and moves it, together with chute I9 and thecover and side wall 58 of container 2 upwardly to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The inclined container bottom is provided with a gasket 58v to receive the bevelled lower edge of the container wall, thereby sealing the joint when the container wall is in its nor- 'mal operative position. During the upward movement of the side wall 59, plates 34 which have been thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force during liquid separation, engage the side wall, which moves them in as the wall rises, scraping the berries oil.' said wall and discharging them upon rotating platform I Il which carries them to deilector llwhich guides them outwardly through the chute 6I in the casing for deposition in desired containers.

Table I0 may be rotated by any desirable means. As shown in the drawings, its driver is a motor II, the shaft of which is connected through speed reducing gearing, indicated generally by the numeral 62, with a worm gear on the shaft 64, which at its upper end extends into a casing 65 and has ailixed thereto a cog wheel 66 connected by chain 66a to cog wheel 61 on a flange of table III, an upwardly extending flange 68 being also attached to the table for preventing the berries from coming in contact with support 5 and a downwardly inclined ilange 68a being attached to the casing I to guide the berries onto the table. To maintain chain 66a taut, an idler movement, a plurality of grooved rolls 65a are.

provided which are arranged in casings 65, 69 and to receive the bevelled peripheral edge of the platform, although obviously the rolls may be supported in any other desirable manner. For example, they may be secured to the inside of the casing and arranged below the platform, and an appropriate seal provided to prevent the sugar solution which may cling to therberries from seeping between the platform and the casing.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving rod 55 upwardly, although in view of the desirability of providing a slow rotation of the container during the removal of the berries, there may be a slight oscillation of -rod 55 and the lifting means is therefore preferably separate from the rod. A lost motion direct connection, however, may be provided to compensate for oscillation, if desired.

As illustrated in the drawings, rod 55 is moved upwardly .by means of the lever 8 which is pivoted to the frame at the point and is provided with a roll 16 lying below head 56 of rod 55 and with a segmental gear 11 at the other end driven by a pinion 18 keyed to a shaft 19 journalled in bearings 88 and 8|.

Pinion 18 is driven by the motor 9 through pinion 88, gear 84 and shaft 19 to rotate lever 8 in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 1, the movement of the lever being limited by a resilient bumper 85 provided with a cap 86.. To insure the complete raising of rod 55, gear 84 is not attached directly to shaft 19, but frictionally through plates 81 and 88 arranged on opposite sides of gear 84 which are held in engagement with said gear by spring 93. Plates 81 and 88 are slidably keyed on sleeve 9| and nut 94 may be adjusted to provide frictional clutch power transmission from pinion 83 to pinion 18, the clutch slipping when lever 8 engages resilient bumper 85.

After the berries have been removed and motor 9 has been deenergized, rod the weight of chute I9, cover I6 and wall 59 of container 2, descends and through head 56 acting on roll 16 turns lever 8 in a clockwise direction, Fig. 1, until it engages resilient bumper 95.

The downward movement of the rod is impeded by the braking effect of the gears `and motor. To further assist in preventing too rapid descent of the rod 55, a dash-pct snubbing device 95a may be provided, shown in detail in Fig. 13, including a casing 96 containing oil or other suitable fluid and a piston 91. One end of casing 96 is attached at 98 to the frame 5 and the piston rod is attached at 99 to the segmental gearso that upon movement of the lever in a counterclockwise direction the piston rod is moved outwardly from its casing. To provide free outward o movement of the piston rod the piston is pro-` vided with a ball check valve |00. Upon downward movement of the rod 55, however, check valve |00 remains closed and the inward movement of piston 91 in casing 96 is impeded by the pressure of the iluid below the piston which must now pass through a restricted opening |0| in the piston. As the rod 55 approaches the limit of its downward travel, however, it is desirable 55, influenced by i to accelerate its movement so that the beveled wall portion of the container will-be forced into tight engagement with gasket 58 to provide a tight seal between the side walls and the bottom 20 of the container 2. For this purpose the walls of casing 98 are provided with an annular groove |02, a short distance from the bottom of the casing, which communicates with a longitudinal groove |08 leading to the bottom of the casing, thereby providing a greater area for the passage of iluid as the piston approaches the limit of its inward travel, thus permitting rod 55 to descend more rapidly. When rod 55 reaches its lowermost position, it will be noted that its upper end is spaced below the head of thimble 51 and therefore does not prevent movement of wall 59 into sealing engagement with the bottom of container 2.

In accordance with my invention means are provided to coordinate and control the operation of my improved apparatus in accordance with a predetermined schedule. For this purpose a control system is provided as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. including a control device 1, provided with electrically connected segments which may be adjustable, the control device being operated by a motor |05, current for which is supplied from line L1, Lz and La, when switch |06 is closed, through conductors |01 and |08, a transformer |09, a balanced rectifying bridge I I0, and a potentiometer the speed of motor |05 and consequently the time sequence being regulated by means of the potentiometer.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, ,when container 2 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and switch |06 is closed, a circuit is established from line L1, through conductor ||2, segment ||3 on control device 1, terminal III, conductor II5, lamp II6, conductor 1, overload switches I|8 and ||9 and conductor |20, to line L3. Lamp I I6 is accordingly illuminated and an-indication is given that the container is ready for a charger After the mixture of berries in the sugar solution has been placed in container 2, and motor I 05 has moved control device 1 to a position in which segment 2| 4on control device 1 is in engagement with terminal |22, a circuit is established from line L1 through conductor H2, segment I I3, conductor |23, segment |2I, terminal |22, conductor |24, II1, overload switches I|8 and |I9, and conductor |20 to line L3. The energization of coil |25 closes switch |21, and a circuit is established from line L1, L2 and Lato niotor 6 through conductors |28, |29 and |30.

Motor 6 being now energized, container 2 is rotated rapidly to expel the sugar solution therefrom, the liquid passing out through tubes I1 upon the inclined plate 38 and outwardly through the opening 39 in casing I. After segment 2| has passed terminal |22, motor 6 is deenergized However, container 2 still continues to rotate at a comparatively high speed. When segment |3| is moved into contact with terminal |32, a circuit is established from line L1, through conductor I I2, segment II3, conductor |23, segment |2I, conductor |33, segment |3I, terminal |32, conductor |34, switch |35, conductor |34a, coil |36, conductors |31 and II1, overload switches ||8 and III9. and conductor |20 to line La. At this time switch |35 which is associated with motor 6, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings and which will be subsequently described, is closed` Upon energization of coil |36, switch I 38 is closed and current is supplied from L1, L2 and L1, to motor 6 magnetic coil |25, conductor |26, ccinductorthrough conductors |29, |29 and |30, which provides a reverse phase which tends to rotate the motor in the opposite direction and thereby produces a braking effect. When the speed of motor V6, due to friction and the braking elect of the drawings, is of conventional form and comprises an inclined tube |39 for the mercury, which is supported on the shaft of the motor. When the speed ofthe motor is sufiiciently rapid the mercury is thrown to the upper portion of container |39 which effects contact between conductors |40 and |4|, leading to collector rings |42 and |43 which are mounted on an insulating sleeve surrounding the motor shaft and which are connected through brushes to conductors |34 and |34a. As the speed of the motor decreases, however, the contact between conductors |49 and |4| is broken, which opens the circuit between conductor |34 and |34a. Motor 6 which is now no longer influenced by the braking action of the line current, coasts gradually to stopping position.

During the slow rotation of container 2, contact |44 on control device 'l is moved by motor into engagement with terminal |45 and a circuit is established from line L1 to conductor l2, segment ||3, conductor |23, segment |2|, con.- ductor |33, segment |3|, conductor |46, segment |44, terminal |45, conductor |41, coil |48, con.- ductors |26 and Il'l, overload switches ||8 and ||9, and conductor |20 to line Ls. When coil |46 is energized it closes switch |49, thereby supplying current to motor 9 from line L1, La and La, through conductors |50, |5| and |52. Upon energization of motor 9, lever 8 is rotated in :a counterclockwise direction, which raises chute I9, cover |6 and wall 59 of container 2, and the berries fall from container 2 by gravity assisted by centrifugal force resulting from the slow rotation of the basket, and are also removed by the positive action of the baille 30 and plates 34 which engage against the inner periphery of the container and scrape the berries therefrom, the plates 34 being adapted to be moved inwardly as inclined wall 59 is raised.

When segment |44 passes terminal 45, motor 9 isv deenergized and rod 55, influenced by its own weight and the weight of chute |9 and the top and side walls of container 2, descends in the manner previously described. Container 2 is thus returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and as control device 'l moves segment I|3 into engagement with terminal ||4, light ||6 is illuminated, signifying that the container is ready for the next charge.

During the operation of the apparatus, current is supplied to motor from lines L1 and La, through conductor |53, switch |54 and conductor |55 which rotates table |0. It will be noted that this circuit is independent of the circuits to motors 9 and 6 and table I0 may, therefore, be intermittently or continuously operated.

Means may also be provided to coordinate the operation of my improved apparatus with other apparatus. For instance, when container 2 is in a position to be loaded, a signal |56, such as a light, may be established at a distant point, for instance, the signal light might be placed on the freezing machine which would indicate to the operator at that station that the extractor was ready for loading. Signal |56 may be operated segment |44, conductor |51, segment |58, conductor |59 to signal 56 and from thence to` con ductors |60 and I||, overload switches ||6 and ||9, and conductor |20 to line La. Instead of supplying a signal, means may also be provided to operate a portion of another device when container 2 is ready to be loaded. For instance, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the conductor |59 instead of leading to lamp |56 may energize a coil |6| which is effective in closing a switch |62 to motor |63, which might be utilized to discharge berries jwhich have been frozen in the sugar solution, into container 2, or motor |63 might be employed to drive a control device operatively connected to other machinery, or it might be of such a form as to insure that all machine conditions are right for the next operating sequence.

W'hat I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container for a mixture composed of solid and liquid material, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom having a resilient gasket adjacent its outer periphery, an perforate wall having elevated outlet openings and a reenforcing strip at the bottom edge which engages the resilient gasket on the periphery of the bottom when said container is in normal position, a movable control device, means for rotating said container to expel the liquid, means operatively associated with said control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, and actuating means arranged below said container operatively associated with said control device and with the wall for raising the wall from the bottom while the container is undergoing deceleration-to permit discharge of solid material from the container between'the wall and the` bottom.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container for solid material having a liquid associated therewith, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall having a cover and elevated outlet openings, said wall being movable upwardly away from and downwardly into engagement with said bottom, means for rotating said container to expel the liquid through said outlet openings, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, actuating means arranged below said container operatively associated with said control device and with the wall for raising it from the bottom while said container is undergoing deceleration, said wall being adapted to descend by gravity into engagement with said bottom when said actuating means is released, and means associated with said actuating means for impeding the descent of said wall.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable container for solid material having liquid associated therewith, said container having outlet openings and including a bottom and a wall, said wall being movable away from and toward said bottom, a casing surrounding said container having an outlet opening, a table arranged below said container, means for rotating said container to expel liquid therefrom, a movable4 control device, means operatively associated with said control device for applying a reversing torce counter to the direction oi rotation o! said container, so as to decelerate the rate or rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, actuating means operatively associated with said control device for raising the wall o! said container from said bottom while said container is undergoing deceleration, thereby permitting the solid material to fall onto said table, means for rotating said table, and means associated with said casing and being eil'ective during the rotation oi said table i'or deilecting the solid material through the outlet opening in said casing.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatable container for solid material having liquid associated therewith, said container having outlet openings and including a bottom and a downwardly and inwardly inclin all, said wall being movable away from and to rd said bottom. a casing having an outlet opening, a table arranged in said casing below said container, means for rotating said container to discharge the liquid therefrom, actuating means arranged below said container and -operatively associated with said wall for raising it away from said bottom, a vertical spindle disposed centrally of said rotatable container, and stationarily mounted with respect to up-and-down movement of said wall, baille means carried by said spindle, scraping means mounted for radial outward sliding movement on said baille means, and located near the upper end of the basket wall when the wall is in lowered position, and adapted to engage said wall for removing the solid material onto said table as the wall is raised, means for rotating the table, and means associated with said casing and being eifective upon the rotation of said table tor deilecting the solids through the outlet opening in said casing.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container having elevated outlet openings and including a bottom, a wall and a closure for said wall, a casing surrounding said container having a liquid discharge opening communicating with the openings in said container and a solid discharge opening, a rotatable table arranged in said casing below said container, means for rotating said container, rotatable means arranged in said container below the elevated outlet openings for retaining the solids in said container while said container is rotating while permitting the liquid to discharge outwardly through the openings in said container and said casing, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation o1' said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation altera substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, means operatively associated with said control device for raising the wall of said container during said deceleration to permit discharge oi the solids between the wall and bottom onto said table, means for rotating said table, and means associated with said casf ing and being effective upon the' rotation of said table iordeilecting the solids through the outlet for solids in said casing.

6. Apparatus oi' the class described, comprising a container for a mixture composed or a solid and liquid material, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom provided with a resilient gasket adjacent its outer periphery, an

imperi'orate wall having elevated outlet openings and a reinforcing strip at its bottom edge which engages the resilient gasket on the periphery oi.' the bottom when said wall is in normal position, means for rotating said container to expel the liquid through said outlet openings, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said movable control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate oi rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has beenexpelled, and actuating means operatively associated with said movable control device and with said wall for raising the wall from the bottom while said container is undergoing deceleration to permit discharge of solid material from the container between the wall and bottom, the wall of said container being adapted to descend by gravity when said actuating means is released to cause said wall and flange to engage said gasket.

7. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for solid material having a liquid associated therewith, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall having outlet openings, said wall being movable upwardly from and downwardly into engagement with said bottom, means for rotating said container to expel the liquid through said outlet openings. a movable control device, means operatively associated with said movable control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation after a substantial portion of .the liquid has been expelled, actuating means operatively associated with said movable control device and with said wall for raising it from the bottom while said container is undergoing deceleration, said wallbeing adapted to descend by gravity into engagement with said bottom when said actuating means is released, and means associated with said actuating means for impeding the descent of said wall.

8. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for a mixture of a solid and a liquid, said container having a bottom, a wall movable upwardly away from and downwardly into engagement with the bottom and having outlet openings, means for rotating said container to force said mixture outwardly and upwardly, rotatable means arranged in said container below said outlet openings for retaining the solids in said container while the liquid discharges through said outlet openings, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said movable control device for applying a reversing force counter .to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, actuating means operatively associated with said movable control device for raising the wall of said container to permit the solids to escape between the wall and bottom while said container is undergoing deceleration. said wall being adapted to descend toward the bottom when the force on said actuating means is released.

9. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a rotatable .container for solid material having a liquid associated therewith. said container having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having openings therein and being movable away from and toward said bottom, a casing surrounding said container having an outlet opening, a table arranged below said container, means for rotating said` container to expel liquid therefrom, a ,movable control device, means operatively associated with said movable control device for applying a reversing force counter to the direction of rotation of said container, so as to decelerate the rate of rotation after a substantial portion of the liquid has been expelled, actuating means operatively 'associated with said movable control device for raising the wall of said container from said bottom during said deceleration, thereby permitting the solid material to fall onto said table, means for rotating said table, means associated with said container for preventing liquid associated'with lsaidsolids from coming in contact with said rotating means, and means associated with said casing and being effective during the rotation of said table for deiiecting the solid materialthrough the outlet openings in said casing.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container for solid material having a liquid associated therewith, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall having a cover and outlet openings, said wall being movable upwardly away from and downwardly towardv said bottom, means for rotating said container'to expel the liquid through said openings,

actuating means arranged below said container and operatively associated with the wall for raising it upwardly from the bottom, said wall being adapted to descend by gravity into engagement with said bottom when said actuating means is released, means associated with said actuating means for impeding the descent of said wall, and

means associated with said impeding means for reducing the effectiveness of the impeding means as the wall approaches the bottom in its downward travel.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container having elevated outlet openings fora mixture of solids and a liquid, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom with a yieldable gasket surrounding its periphery, a wall movable upwardly away from and downwardly into engagement with the bottom and normally adapted to rest on said gasket, means for rotating said container to force said mixture outwardly and upwardly, means arranged in said container below said outlet openings for retaining the solids in said container while the liquid discharges through said outlet openings, actuating means for raising the wall of said container to permit the solids to escape between the wall and bottom, said wall being adapted to descend toward the bottom when said actuating means becomes ineffective, means associated with said actuating means for impeding the descent of said wall, and means associated with said impeding means for permitting a more rapid descent of said wall as it approaches said gasket.

l2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for a mixture containing solidsv and a liquid, including a cover therefor, said container being provided with elevated outlet openings, a baille arranged in said container below said outlet openings and having extensions with apertures therein movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the container axis, means for rotating said container and said baille wherebyl ing a container for a mixture of solids and liquids, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom and a wall having a cover and elevated outlet openings, said wall being movable away from and toward said bottom, means /for rotating said container to force said mixture outwardly and upwardly, means arranged in said container .below said outlet openings for retaining the solids in said container while permitting the liquid to discharge through said outlet openings and means for moving the wall of said container away from the bottom and said retaining means, said retaining means serving to remove the solids from said container during the movement of said wall.

14. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for a mixture composed of solids and a liquid, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall movable away from and.

toward said bottom and a closure Ior the wall, said container 1,being provided' with elevated outlet openings* baille arranged in said container below said outlet openings having movable extensions provided with apertures, means for simultaneously rotating said container and said baille to move said extensions outwardly into engagement with said wall and to force said mixture outwardly and upwardly, the extensions on said baiile serving to prevent solids from rising beyond said baille while permitting the liquid to discharge through the apertures therein and through said outlet openings, and means for moving the wall of said container away from the bottom and upwardly with respect to said baille, said extensions serving to remove the solids from the wall of the container during its movement.

15. Apparatus of the class describedv comprising a rotatable container for a mixture composed of solids and a liquid, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall, and a cover, said container being provided with elevated outlet openings, and a rotatable baille arranged in said container below said outlet openings having movable extensions which are moved outwardly and engage the wall while said container and baille are rotating, said wall being movable away from and toward said bottom and upwardly with respect to said baiile and said extensions being adapted to be forced inwardly by the upward movement of said wall as the wall is moved away from the bottom.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container for a mixture of solids and a liquid, said container having a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall movable upwardly away from and downwardly toward said bottom and a closure for the wall, said4 container having elevated outlet openings, means for rotating said container to force said mixture outwardly and upwardly, means adapted to engage said wall and arranged in said container and located below said outlet openings for retaining the solids in said container while permitting the liquids to discharge through said outlet openings during the rotation of said container, and means for moving the wall of said container away from its botwall, said wall being movable away from and into engagement with said bottom, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said control device and said container for rotating said container when the control device is in one position, and means operatively associated with said control device and said wall for moving the wall away from the bottom when the control device is in a second position.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising a container for solids having a liquid associated therewith, said container having openings and being composed of a bottom and a wall, said wall being movable away from and into engagement with said bottom, a movable control device for actuating groups of operating elements in chronological sequence, means connected to and energized by said control means at one position thereof for rotating said container, means connected to and energized by said control means at a further position thereof for decelerating the rotational rate of said container, and power operated means connected to and energized by said control means at a still further position of said control device for moving said wall away from said bottom while said container is decelerating, and automatic means for stopping said container.

19. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for solids having a liquid associated therewith, said container having elevated outlet openings and being composed of a downwardly inclined bottom, a wall movable away from and toward said bottom and a closure for the wall, a movable control device, means operatively associated with said control device and said container whereby said container -is rotated when said control device is in one position and the solids and liquid in said container are forced outwardly and upwardly, means for retaining the solids in said container while permitting the liquid to discharge through said outlet openings, means operatively associated with said control device and said container whereby a braking action is applied to said container, and means operatively associated with said container and said control device whereby the wall of said container is moved from the bottom while the container is still rotating to discharge the solid contents.

20. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container having elevated outlet openings for a mixture composed oi' solids and a liquid, said container having a bottom, a wall movable away from and toward said bottom and a closure for said wall, a movable control device, means for moving said control device, means operatively associated with said container and said control device Ior rotating said container at a high rate of speed when said control device is in one position, whereby said mixture is forced outwardly and upwardly, means engaging said wall and arranged in said container below said outlet opening for retaining the solids in said container while permitting the liquid to discharge through said outlet openings, means operatively associated with said container and said control device whereby a braking action is applied to said container when the control device is in a second position, and means whereby the wall of said container is moved away :trom the bottom and said solid retaining means when said control device is in a third position, said retaining means being eil'ective in removing the solid contents from said wall during its movement.

21. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a container for solids having a liquid associated therewith, said container having a bottom and a wall, said wall having outlet openings p and being movable away from and into engagement with said bottom, a movable control device, power means operatively associated with said control device and said container for rotating said container when the control device is in one position, means for moving said control device to a second position to disconnect the power from said container operating means, and means operatively associated with said control device and said wall when the control device is in the second position for moving the wall away from the bottom while the container is still rotatingto permit discharge of the solid contents.

OSCAR W. JOHNSON. 

